If not one of the largest fresh produce markets in Hong Kong, the market on Reclamation Street it is certainly the longest. It starts off in Yau Ma Tei and stretch all the way up to Mongkok. 

These fresh produce markets - of which there are many in Hong Kong - provide a crucial role in the communities they serve. They form an integral part of the social fabric of those communities. 

There's something that is certainly "visceral" about these open air markets - all the sights, the smells, the sounds, the hustle and the bustle and, just being there - providing an experience like no other. 

Supermarkets and 24 hour convenient stores abound in Hong Kong. But, in their kind of "signed, sealed and delivered" way, the shopping experience inside these air-conned establishment is no where near the same. In these market places, you see what you get and, you get what you see. And besides, there's always a little bit of social interaction in between.

One of the prime reasons that these markets are so vital is, a lifestyle that is particular to Hong Kong, a place where physical space is at a premium and social spaces are quite often, ambiguous. I'm not exactly sure of all the statistics but, things can get pretty tight, this in terms of both physical and personal space. 

Most apartments have little else but a gas cooking ring, a rice cooker, a water boiler for hot water and, at a stretch, maybe a refrigerator. 

These fresh produce markets provide for daily needs on a per turn basis - something maybe for breakfast and certainly something for the evening meal. For each meal, there are no left-overs. You buy exactly what you need and, not much more. 

Whatever the need, whatever the occasion, Hong Kong's markets are where it's all at. If you want to see the real Hong Kong and the people who live in this metropolis, head down to the markets, this is where people live. Enjoy...